Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal Cord Injury

There is an estimated 12,500 new cases of spinal cord injury (SCI) every year. Of those injuries, approximately 80% of them are males, and the average age at the time of injury is 42. Although there are many potential causes of SCI cases, the leading causes of SCI are car accidents and falls, with some other causes being violence, sports, and medical accidents.

The most common type of SCI case is what is called an incomplete tetraplegic (also known in the U.S. as a quadriplegic). A person who is quadriplegic will have partial or total paralysis in all four limbs, including the body itself. Depending on which portion of the spinal cord is injured, a person can have lifetime medical costs of anywhere from $2-5 million depending on their age at the time of injury and other factors.

In addition to the incredibly high medical expenses that a person with an SCI has to bear, they also suffer a significantly shorter life expectancy than people without an SCI. In some extreme cases, a person who suffered an SCI can have a lifespan 30 years shorter than a person who has not suffered an SCI.

Those who have suffered an SCI also have a significantly lower employment rate compared to the norm. At one year after the injury, only about 12% of people who suffer an SCI are employed. The number increases only slightly at 20 years after injury to about 33% of people suffering from a SCI being employed. This can have a huge financial burden on the person’s family, especially if they are the primary breadwinner.

Don’t take on this battle alone. Our experienced attorneys work with some of the top specialists in the country to help speed up your recovery process. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, call the experienced Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys at the Merman Law Firm today for a free case evaluation.